Friday, 7 March 2014

Updates On The Constitution From Parliament

By
Paul Shalala

Today's
Vice President's Question Time was the last one in this sitting of parliament
which is expected to adjourn sine die on Tuesday next week.

As
part of their protest on the constitution, opposition members of parliament sat
quietly and none of them asked a single question to Dr Guy Scott during the 30
minutes long Vice President's Question Time.

Ruling
Patriotic Front backbenchers seized the opportunity and turned it into a field
day in which they took turns asking questions to Dr Scott.

The
opposition members of parliament including independent Lubanshenshi member of
parliament Patrick Mucheleka, all sat and kept quiet during the 30 minutes for
the Vice President's Question Time.

Dr
Scott said holding a referendum in older to adopt the new constitution will be
more difficulty and less manageable than holding a general election.

He
said in a referendum, the country is supposed to ensure that atleast two thirds
of the population vote in the referendum to make the document legitimate.

The
Vice President says this is as opposed to a general election where only
registered voters are allowed to cast their ballots in an election.

Dr Scott
has also assured the nation that government will not allow any sectors of
society to hijack the constitution making process.

He
said the ruling Patriotic Front has enough numbers in parliament to ensure that
the new constitution is enacted in an orderly manner.

The
Vice President said this in response to several questions posed by Patriotic
Front backbenchers who posed several questions on the constitution.

Meanwhile,
Dr Scott has revealed that Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has been cleared by
the Judge Evans Hamaundu-led tribunal.

Dr Scott
says as far as he is aware, Mr Kabimba was cleared of all allegations leveled
against him.

The
Vice President revealed this in Parliament this morning in response to
Lupososhi member of parliament Bwalya Chungu who wanted to know the results of
the Judge Hamaundu Tribunal.

Human
rights activist Brebner Changala and former Solwezi central member of
parliament Lucky Mulusa petitioned Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda to
set up a tribunal to probe the Justice Minister.

The
two alleged that Mr Kabimba abused his office when he allegedly used a
government legal opinion offered to him in his capacity as Minister of Justice
by the Solicitor General Musa Mwenye to allegedly pursue a private agenda of
the ruling Patriotic Front and subsequently by a private litigant.

Mazabuka
Central member of Parliament Garry Nkombo this morning moved a motion to urge
government to provide a roadmap for the enactment of the new constitution.

In
moving the motion, Mr Nkombo said his move was non confrontational as it was
aimed at highlighting the commitment by the Patriotic Front to the
constitution.

He
said with the completion of the work by the Technical Committee on Drafting the
Republican Constitution, there was need for government to guide the nation on
the way forward.

The
motion was seconded by Chembe member of parliament Mwansa Mbulakulima who said
the new constitution must be able to improve governance in the country.

Meanwhile,
opposition members of parliament who earlier this week avoided asking questions
for oral answers, today resumed their normal duties.

UPND
Mwinilunga member of parliament Stephen Katuka and his Solwezi West MMD
counterpart Humphrey Mwanza today posed their questions.

UPND
Katuba member of parliament Jonas Shakafuswa and his Kabompo West counterpart Ambrose Lufuma also asked follow up questions.

And
contributing to the debate, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said government had
a clear roadmap which will deliver a people driven constitution.

Mr
Kabimba's sentiments were echoed by Lupososhi member of parliament Bwalya Chungu who said all lawmakers must partner with government to produce a people
driven constitution.

However,
Mr Chungu could not finish debating the motion as parliament was adjourned at
12:55.

The
Lupososhi lawmaker is expected to wind up his debate on Tuesday before the
house votes whether to adopt or reject the motion.

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About The Author

Paul Shalala is a Kitwe-based reporter for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, the country's national broadcaster which runs two TV channels and three radio channels. He was recently elected as Secretary (Northern Region) 2016 - 2018 term for the Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators. On The Zambian Analyst, he blogs about politics, elections, governance and other issues of national and international interest. He previously worked for MUVI Television, New Vision Newspaper and freelanced for The London Evening Post. He has been trained in various specialised journalism courses in Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. He was awarded the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship and studied Public Management at Syracuse University in New York. He has so far reported from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America. Paul has a number of local and international media awards to his credit. Paul is also the the founder and Managing Director for PAMOS Media Consultancy (www.pamosmedia.com) a company which is training 100 Zambian journalists in budget tracking and investigative journalism skills funded by the US Government